"He was Mr. Drayton's manager, and mixed up in his affairs. I thought you might have seen him at Wandsworth. He came to the rescue at that terrible time." "I saw no one but _her_ then," he said, in a lower voice. "Miss Rivers, do you think she will forget all that frightful business?" "I think she will: at least, her letters are much less heart-broken than they were. I think she rather nursed her sorrow at Wandsworth. Then she took to going to see sick children and giving away all her money, and she began to get better." "She gave away all her money?" "Every farthing he left her. Yes, she would not keep even one hundred pounds a year, nor a hundred pence. She could not bear touching his money." "I am so glad!" he said, fervently. "Really?" Grace said, in a curious tone. Sir Albert coloured, and said, "It is pleasant when a character we admire is consistent." "Margaret is very consistent." "She is everything a high-minded woman should be," he answered, earnestly; "I am quite sure we agree in our ideas of her." "Perhaps we do; but you express it better than I do: and my sister is too good for _me_. I admire her, but she is so far above me that there is not full sympathy between us." "But there might be," he said, in his quiet voice; "to live with some one having a high aim must help one." "It does not help me," said Grace, sharply, but with an accent of pain in her voice; throwing off any feeling weighing with her she added, in a laughing tone, "It gives me a crick in my neck." She puzzled him. It was painful to him to see her so delicate and thinking of nothing but amusement, but he could not judge; and through the flippant tone broke so much real feeling that he knew she spoke much more lightly than she felt. She was Margaret's sister, and he would do his utmost for her amusement. Instead of leaving London as he had intended doing, he would remain and go to this ball and to others, and do his utmost to enable her to enjoy it. The Duchess's card and the invitation were handed to Lady Lyons; and her first idea was that it was a mistake. Grace interposed. "It is all right, Lady Lyons; of course the Duchess could not ask me without you, and I know some of her family." Lady Lyons was most deeply impressed. "My dear! I never was in the same room with a duchess before; it is very delightful." "l do not suppose she is different from other people," said Grace, indifferently. "I hope it is not a case of a new gown--I really cannot afford it," and Lady Lyons looked really troubled. "As I am dragging you to the party, I will find the gown," said Grace, laughing; "leave it to me." This card was not the only one that came on that and the following days, and Grace was quite enchanted, though she professed to be prepared for this, and any thing else that might befall her.